26-Jul-23 - French Navy’s 32F Squadron, based at Cherbourg and equipped with the “interim helicopter” Airbus H160, completed its first search and rescue (SAR) mission on Sunday, July 23 #H160
10-Apr-23 - The French Navy leased interim helicopter Airbus H160 FI ( flotte intérimaire ) continues evaluations before being declared operational with the Flotille 32F #H160
22-Sep-22 - The first of six interim search and rescue (SAR) Airbus H160B was delivered by Babcock to the French Navy. These helicopters will fill the gap for national missions replacing AS365 awaiting the delivery of the H160M Guépard from 2027 #H160
22-May-21 - Two additional H160 (making 6) will be leased from Babcock for Search and Rescue (SAR) from May 2022 based at Lanveoc-Poulmic naval air station (Britany), Cherbourg airport (Normandy) and Hyères naval air station (Provence) as interim helicopters pending arrival of H160M #H160
10-Sep-20 - Four French Navy’ interim helicopters H160 supplied by Babcock under a 10-year leasing contract will be equipped with the Safran Electronics & Defense Euroflir 410 observation system. The leasing also includes 12 AS365N3 Dauphins #Euroflir
11-Feb-20 - Babcock will supply 4 H160 for Search and Rescue (SAR) to the French Navy in 2022 for a period of 10 years as interim helicopters until delivery of the final H160M #H160
06-Feb-20 - France launch development of the H160M Guépard as the future helicopter of the armed forces. The French Navy will lease 12 Dauphin from Heli-Union and obtain 4 new H160 from Babcock for SAR as an interim measure after the retirement of the Alouette III #Interim
